Since 1997 the UO Linguistics Department and the Yamada Language Center have offered UO students and Eugene-Springfield community members an opportunity to study “less commonly taught languages” in a unique and highly enjoyable way.

The Self Study Language Program (GSL 199) is based on connecting small groups of motivated students with talented and dedicated native speaking tutors. The YLC provides space, learning resources, curricular support, and a means to track and evaluate your progress.

Our classes are small (5-10 students), have an emphasis on spoken language, and utilize a wide variety of authentic materials and realia to make this experience a rich one both culturally and linguistically. UO students can take them for 1 UO credit. 

*Community members (non-UO students) are welcome to take the course as non-credit for a fee of $250.

Our curriculum is topic-based, and to a large extent, comes from your specific language needs and interests. We have open enrollment (click the button at right to see what's being offered). This Fall we anticipate having classes in nine languages: Cantonese, Farsi/Persian, Hindi-Urdu, Portuguese, Swahili, Tagalog, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Contact us for more information, or to set up a class visit. Orientation for Winter term is Wednesday, September 30 from 5:30-7:00 in 175 McKenzie Hall. A Zoom link will be available for courses we offer in synchronized web format.

If you're interested in learning more about the experiences of SSLP tutors and students in the program, please check out the two videos below!

Did you know that you can request any language class at YLC? If we get 4 or more students that request a language, we will find a tutor to teach it!